Hinge mechanism and window cover system
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A hinge, comprising:
- a first relatively small hinge member having a generally c-shaped configuration of relatively small dimension in a plane transverse to the length of the first hinge member and a mating, second relatively large hinge member having a generally c-shaped configuration of relatively large dimension in a plane transverse to the length of the second hinge member;
the first and second hinge members each comprising continuous first, second and third sections;
the first and second sections of the first and second hinge members being substantially continuous curved sections of different curvature and the third section being a substantially planar lip;
the continuous first, second and third sections of the first and second hinge members forming an associated generally c-configured cavity and the first and third sections having respective outer ends defining an opening therebetween into the associated cavity;
the first section of the relatively large second hinge member being substantially entirely within and protruding into the associated cavity defined by the second hinge member, for engaging the first section of the mating, relatively small first hinge member as the hinge members pivot from a first limit of pivotal movement toward a second limit of pivotal movement, thereby shifting the outside surface of the relatively small first hinge member against the inner surface including the third, lip section of the relatively large second hinge member and capturing the relatively small first hinge member within the relatively large second hinge member; and
the orientation of the curvature of the first section of the second hinge member being opposite the orientation of the curvature of the first and second sections of the first hinge member and of the second section of the second hinge member; and
the relative dimensions of the radii rxy associated with the first and second sections being r11>
r22>
r12>
r21, wherein x=1, 2 represents the first and second sections, and y=1, 2 represents the first and second hinge members;
whereby at one limit of pivotal movement of the hinge the inner surface of the first hinge member is captured against the inner surface including the lip of the second hinge member and at the opposite limit of pivotal movement the outside surface of the first hinge member is captured against the inner surface including the lip of the second hinge member.
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Abstract
A hinge for assembling window covers is disclosed, along with associated window cover systems, including single blind systems and dual blind systems.
64 Citations
22 Claims
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1. A hinge, comprising:
- a first relatively small hinge member having a generally c-shaped configuration of relatively small dimension in a plane transverse to the length of the first hinge member and a mating, second relatively large hinge member having a generally c-shaped configuration of relatively large dimension in a plane transverse to the length of the second hinge member;
the first and second hinge members each comprising continuous first, second and third sections;
the first and second sections of the first and second hinge members being substantially continuous curved sections of different curvature and the third section being a substantially planar lip;
the continuous first, second and third sections of the first and second hinge members forming an associated generally c-configured cavity and the first and third sections having respective outer ends defining an opening therebetween into the associated cavity;
the first section of the relatively large second hinge member being substantially entirely within and protruding into the associated cavity defined by the second hinge member, for engaging the first section of the mating, relatively small first hinge member as the hinge members pivot from a first limit of pivotal movement toward a second limit of pivotal movement, thereby shifting the outside surface of the relatively small first hinge member against the inner surface including the third, lip section of the relatively large second hinge member and capturing the relatively small first hinge member within the relatively large second hinge member; and
the orientation of the curvature of the first section of the second hinge member being opposite the orientation of the curvature of the first and second sections of the first hinge member and of the second section of the second hinge member; and
the relative dimensions of the radii rxy associated with the first and second sections being r11>
r22>
r12>
r21, wherein x=1, 2 represents the first and second sections, and y=1, 2 represents the first and second hinge members;
whereby at one limit of pivotal movement of the hinge the inner surface of the first hinge member is captured against the inner surface including the lip of the second hinge member and at the opposite limit of pivotal movement the outside surface of the first hinge member is captured against the inner surface including the lip of the second hinge member. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
- a first relatively small hinge member having a generally c-shaped configuration of relatively small dimension in a plane transverse to the length of the first hinge member and a mating, second relatively large hinge member having a generally c-shaped configuration of relatively large dimension in a plane transverse to the length of the second hinge member;
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4. A hinge, comprising:
- a first relatively small hinge member having a generally c-shaped configuration of relatively small dimension in a plane transverse to the length of the first hinge member and defining a first cavity; and
a mating, second relatively large hinge member having a generally c-shaped configuration of relatively large dimension in a plane transverse to the length of the second hinge member and defining a second cavity;the first and second hinge members each comprising first and second curved sections; and
the orientation of the curvature of the first section of the second hinge member being opposite the orientation of the curvature of the first and second sections of the first hinge member and of the second section of the second hinge member; and
the first and second sections of the first and second hinge members having radii rxy, the relative dimensions of the radii rxy being r11>
r22>
r12>
r21, wherein x=1, 2 represents the first and second sections, and y=1, 2 represents the first and second hinge members.- View Dependent Claims (5, 6)
- a first relatively small hinge member having a generally c-shaped configuration of relatively small dimension in a plane transverse to the length of the first hinge member and defining a first cavity; and
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7. A hinge, comprising:
- a first relatively small hinge member having a generally c-shaped configuration of relatively small dimension in a plane transverse to the length of the first hinge member and a mating, second relatively large hinge member having a generally c-shaped configuration of relatively large dimension in a plane transverse to the length of the second hinge member;
the first and second hinge members each comprising continuous first, second and third sections;
the first and second sections of each of the first and second hinge members being substantially continuous curved sections of different curvature and the third section being a substantially planar lip;
the continuous first, second and third sections of the first hinge member forming an associated generally c-configured first cavity and the first and third sections having respective outer ends defining a first opening, between the first and third sections of the first hinge member and into the associated first cavity;
the continuous first, second and third sections of the second hinge member forming an associated generally c-configured second cavity and the first and third sections having respective outer ends defining a second opening, between the first and third sections of the second hinge member and into the associated second cavity;
the first and second sections of the first hinge member being inwardly concave relative to the associated first cavity;
the first section of the second hinge member being inwardly convex relative to the associated second cavity; and
the second section of the second hinge member being inwardly concave relative to the associated second cavity; and
the first and second sections of the first and second hinge members having radii rxy, the relative dimensions of the radii rxy being r11>
r22>
r12>
r21, wherein x=1, 2 represents the first and second sections, and y=1, 2 represents the first and second hinge members; and
the first section of the relatively large second hinge member being substantially entirely within and protruding into the associated first cavity for engaging the first section of the mating, relatively small first hinge member as the hinge members pivot from a first limit of pivotal movement toward a second limit of pivotal movement, thereby shifting the outside surface of the relatively small first hinge member against the inner surface of the relatively large second hinge member and capturing the relatively small first hinge member within the relatively large second hinge member. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9)
- a first relatively small hinge member having a generally c-shaped configuration of relatively small dimension in a plane transverse to the length of the first hinge member and a mating, second relatively large hinge member having a generally c-shaped configuration of relatively large dimension in a plane transverse to the length of the second hinge member;
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10. A hinge comprising:
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A) a first, relatively small hinge member having a generally c-shaped configuration of relatively small dimension in a plane transverse to the length of the hinge;
B) a second, relatively large hinge member adapted for receiving and mating with the first hinge member, the second hinge member having a generally c-shaped configuration of relatively large dimension in said transverse plane;
C) the first and second hinge members each comprising first, second and third sections in said transverse plane, the first and second sections of each of the first and second hinge members having substantially continuous, different radii and the third section of each of the first and second hinge members being a lip;
D) the first section, the second section and the third, lip section of the first, relatively small hinge member being joined together and forming the c-shaped configuration of relatively small dimension and defining a first cavity, within the first, second and third sections of the first hinge member; and
the first section and the third, lip section of the first hinge member defining an opening therebetween into the first cavity;
E) the first section, the second section and the third, lip section of the second, relatively large hinge member being joined together and forming the c-shaped configuration of relatively large dimension and defining an associated second cavity within the first, second and third sections; and
the first section and the third, lip section of the second hinge member defining an opening therebetween into the second cavity;
F) the orientation of the curvature of the radius of the first section of the second hinge member being opposite the orientation of the curvature of the radii of the first and second sections of the first hinge member and of the second section of the second hinge member; and
G) the radii of the first and second sections of the first and second hinge members having relative dimensions rxy, wherein x=1, 2 denotes the first and second sections, and y=1, 2 denotes the first and second hinge members; and
wherein r11>
r22>
r12>
r21.- View Dependent Claims (11, 12)
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13. A slat blind system, comprising:
- a traverse track;
a plurality of carriers suspended from the track for traversing along the track;
an array of elongated slats mounted to and suspended from the carriers for opening and closing traversing movement along the track; and
a plurality of hinges extending along a longitudinal section of and pivotally joining the slats;A) each hinge comprising;
a first, relatively small hinge member having a generally c-shaped configuration of relatively small dimension in a plane transverse to the length of the hinge, and the first hinge member extending along a longitudinal section of a first of a pair of adjacent slats; and
a second, relatively large hinge member adapted for receiving and mating with the first hinge member, the second hinge member having a generally c-shaped configuration of relatively large dimension in said transverse plane, and the second hinge member extending along a longitudinal section of the second of said pair of slats corresponding to the longitudinal section along the first of said pair of slats occupied by the first hinge member;
B) the first and second hinge members each comprising first, second and third sections in said transverse plane, the first and second sections of each hinge member having substantially continuous, different radii and the third section of each hinge member being a lip;
C) the first section, the second section and the third, lip section of the first, relatively small hinge member being joined together and forming the c-shaped configuration of relatively small dimension and defining a first cavity, within the first, second and third sections of the first hinge member; and
the first section and the third, lip section of the first hinge member defining an opening therebetween into the first cavity;
D) the first section, the second section and the third, lip section of the second, relatively large hinge member being joined together and forming the c-shaped configuration of relatively large dimension and defining a second cavity, within the first, second and third sections of the second hinge member; and
the first section and the third, lip section of the second hinge member defining an opening therebetween into the second cavity;
E) the orientation of the curvature of the radius of the first section of the second hinge member being opposite the orientation of the curvature of the radii of the first and second sections of the first hinge member and of the second section of the second hinge member;
F) the relative dimensions of the radii associated with the first and second sections of the first and second hinge members decreasing in the order (1) the first section of the first hinge member, (2) the second section of the second hinge member, (3) the first section of the second hinge member, and (4) the second section of the first hinge member; and
G) the first section of the relatively large second hinge member being substantially entirely within and protruding into the second cavity within the second hinge member, for engaging the first section of the relatively small first hinge member as the hinge members pivot from a first limit of pivotal movement toward a second limit of pivotal movement, thereby shifting the outside surface of the relatively small first hinge member against the inner surface including the third, lip section of the relatively large second hinge member and capturing the relatively small first hinge member within the relatively large second hinge member. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17)
- a traverse track;
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18. A slat blind system, comprising:
- a traverse track;
a plurality of carriers suspended from the track for traversing along the track;
an array of elongated slats mounted to and suspended from the carriers for opening and closing traversing movement along the track; and
a plurality of hinges extending along a longitudinal section of and pivotally joining the slats;A) each hinge comprising;
a first, relatively small hinge member having a generally c-shaped configuration of relatively small dimension in a plane transverse to the length of the hinge, and the first hinge member extending along a longitudinal section of a first of a pair of adjacent slats; and
a second, relatively large hinge member adapted for receiving and mating with the first hinge member, the second hinge member having a generally c-shaped configuration of relatively large dimension in said transverse plane, and the second hinge member extending along a longitudinal section of the second of said pair of slats corresponding to the longitudinal section along the first of said pair of slats occupied by the first hinge member;
B) the first and second hinge members each comprising first, second and third sections in said transverse plane, the first and second sections of each hinge member having substantially continuous, different radii and the third section of each hinge member being a lip;
C) the first section, the second section and the third, lip section of the first, relatively small hinge member being joined together and forming the c-shaped configuration of relatively small dimension and defining a first cavity, within the first, second and third sections of the first hinge member; and
the first section and the third, lip section of the first hinge member defining an opening therebetween into the first cavity;
D) the first section, the second section and the third, lip section of the second, relatively large hinge member being joined together and forming the c-shaped configuration of relatively large dimension and defining a second cavity, within the first, second and third sections of the second hinge member; and
the first section and the third, lip section of the second hinge member defining an opening therebetween into the second cavity;
E) the orientation of the curvature of the radius of the first section of the second hinge member being opposite the orientation of the curvature of the radii of the first and second sections of the first hinge member and of the second section of the second hinge member;
F) the radii of the first and second sections of the first and second hinge members having relative dimensions rxy wherein x=1, 2 denotes the first and second sections, and y=1, 2 denotes the first and second hinge members; and
wherein r11>
r22>
r12>
r21; and
G) the first section of the relatively large second hinge member being substantially entirely within and protruding into the second cavity within the second hinge member, for engaging the first section of the relatively small first hinge member as the hinge members pivot from a first limit of pivotal movement toward a second limit of pivotal movement, thereby shifting the outside surface of the relatively small first hinge member against the inner surface including the third, lip section of the relatively large second hinge member and capturing the relatively small first hinge member within the relatively large second hinge member. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22)
- a traverse track;
Specification